Prediction, Odds & Betting Tips for Community Shield: Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool at FA Community Shield
Prediction, Odds & Betting Tips for Community Shield: Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool at FA Community Shield
These two teams have met in the final fixture of the previous EPL campaign, with them splitting a point each, 1-1. As the reigning champions and the winners of the FA Cup, respectively, they will open this season in a battle for the first trophy.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace had mixed success during the preseason. In the end, they had three wins, two defeats, and a tie. Among others, they would meet with two German teams, Mainz and Augsburg, meaning their rivals were solid and of high quality.
Despite numerous rumors about their players, the Eagles really haven’t changed their roster too much. Guehi, Mateta, and Eze were all in transfer talks, yet in the end, all have stayed at Selhurst Park.
Palace plays hard and physical football, with plenty of hard duels in the midfield. They almost never attack first, but instead wait for a counterattack or a chance to exploit their rivals through set pieces.
Liverpool
The Reds are accelerating, and their previous friendlies are proof of that. They had back-to-back games against Ath Bilbao, beating the rivals in both, 4-1 and 3-2. 16-year-old Ngumoha shone in the first one, setting a goal and scoring one in the opening 5 minutes.
Slot’s crew had 5 preseason games, winning 4 and losing only to AC Milan, 2-4. In all of these matches, both teams have scored, and there were at least 4 goals. It suggests that Liverpool’s play style remained the same: open, offensive, and very intense.
However, what is more important for the team and the players is that Wirtz looked excellent on the field, just as Ekitike. Two of the top signings blended in perfectly, and it appears that Liverpool has more quality than last year. And if Isak comes too, that would significantly upgrade the champs.
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Mitchell, Jemide, Guehi, Clyne; Lerma, Hughes, Wharton; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
The latest game was in the final round of the EPL last season. It ended in a tie 1-1. The previous one saw the Reds winning at Selhurst, 0-1. Generally, when these two units meet, there aren’t many goals, and four of the past five events have seen under 2.5 hits.
Liverpool is far better than Palace, and we do mean that. With all due respect to the Eagles, who also have quality, Liverpool’s form and overall quality, both as a team and individually, are at a higher level. Therefore, we pick Slot’s side to triumph and take the opening trophy of the year.
Our verdict: Liverpool wins